The Mysterious

Bubbles of Lake
Peigneur

Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Purpose ...
Hypothesis ......
Procedure .......
Results ......
Analysis/Discussion .....
Conclusion.
Application to Society...
Bibliography.....
Appendix.......

Introduction
In 1980 Lake Peigneur was a three meter deep freshwater lake in Iberia Parish, well known by the
locals as a popular fishing spot. On November 20, 1980 a Texaco oil rig, searching for petroleum,
penetrated a salt mine, owned by the Diamond Crystal Salt Company, due to a miscalculation over the
location of the oil rig. Water rushed into the mine, turning the drill hole into a drain. The rushing water
eroded the sides of the drain, causing it to expand and form a whirlpool.
This whirlpool lasted for two days as it drained all of the water from Lake Peigneur and then
began to drain water from the Gulf of Mexico. When the water finally pressurized it was discovered that
the whirlpool had devoured 11 barges, the oil rig, and 65 acres of surrounding land. This event drastically
changed the ecosystem of Lake Peigneur from a freshwater lake to a saltwater lake.
14 years later in 1994, AGL Resources began to use some of the remaining salt dome under Lake
Peigneur to store pressurized natural gas. 18 years later in 2012, a curious phenomenon started around the
same time that AGL began filing the paperwork for a permit which would allow them to double the size
of their natural gas storage caverns. Residents began reporting that bubbles were appearing along the
surface of Lake Peigneur in long thin lines.
Around the same time in 2012, a sinkhole appeared in Bayou Corne when an underground salt
dome storage cavern collapsed. The only forewarning people had been given was mysterious bubbles
coming up from below the surface in nearby bayous. Since the residents near Lake Peigneur believe they
are witnessing similar bubbles, they are scared and believe that the bubbles may be heralding a new
Bayou Corne type sinkhole.
Residents fearing that AGLs request for more caverns might create a new sinkhole formed the
Save Lake Peignuer group. This group, led by a Mrs. Nara Crowley, is currently in a legal battle with
AGL Resources over the lakes welfare.

Several attempts thus far have been made to identify the source of the Lakes bubbles, but none
so far have been successful. No scientific articles have been published nor has any apparent effort been
made to scientifically determine the source of the bubbles. At most agents from the Department of Natural
Resources were dispatched to the lake but observed not bubbles but rather foam on the lake. This study
shall attempt to determine the origin of the bubbles witnessed on the lake and capture any bubbles which
may originate from beneath the surface of Lake Peigneur in order to analyze their chemical makeup. The
analysis will be done by an anonymous isotopic gas analysis laboratory. Depending on the results of this
study and from any lab results obtained the bubbles could be a natural phenomenon, or warnings of a
disaster to come.
Purpose:
Rationale:
1. Lake Peigneur is home to approximately 4,000 people, locally, and is only 1.2 miles away from
Delcambre a small town containing and additional 2,168 people. Should any incident as
devastating as the 1980 Lake Peignuer event occur, the locals and their homes will surely not
survive unscathed. It is a popular location for both hunting and fishing. With the recent collapse
of the salt dome cavern in Bayou Corne which resulted in a massive sinkhole and was preceded
by mysterious bubbling, Lake Peigneur residents fear that the unidentified bubbles witnessed in
the lake may be the herald of a similar environmental disaster. Determining the origin of the
bubbles is currently the best way to determine any potential threat and to make proper precautions
for the possibility of another disaster.
2. AGL Resources has been storing natural gas in storage caverns mined in the salt dome under the
lake since 1996. Should there be a leak in the caverns and the escaping natural gas ignited, the
explosion could do untold damage to the lake, its residents, and the local ecosystem. If a leak is
discovered but not ignited, a further study could be done to see the effect of the leaking gas on the
environment.

Purpose:
1. This experiment will determine the origin of Lake Peignuers bubbles, and by expunging the
mystery of the bubbles origins, give the lakes residents confidence that either there is no threat to
their environment or that additional preparations should be made.
Hypothesis:
Research Hypothesis:
The origin of the bubbles is not below the surface of the lake, but that they are ordinary lake
foam.
Null Hypothesis:
The origin of the bubbles is below the surface of the lake.
Procedure:
Research:
Scientific Journals or Articles: This being a relatively new event, there are no scientific
articles about the Lake Peigneur bubbles published in any source nor is there any articles about it
published in any scientific journal. Though there are numerous scientific articles on lake foam in general,
they will be addressed later in this paper.
News Stories and Internet: To learn more about the history of Lake Peigneur and recent
news events there, I looked through several websites and located numerous newspaper articles. From
these sources I discovered the tragic, but fascinating history of Lake Peigneur and the local residents
speculations as to the meaning of the bubbles. The non-video reports have been reproduced as originally
printed and can be viewed in the accompanying data book.

Interviews: In order to get a more personal account of the bubbling events,

contacted and interviewed several residents and witnesses to the bubbling events at lake

Peigneur. My interview questions and notes are provided in full in the accompanying data book.
In summary, Les and Brenda Cross, residents and members of Save Lake Peigneur, who claim to
have witnessed bubbling events first hand, describe seeing long, lightning bolt shaped lines of
bubbles on the surface and though they have not seen effervesence, are convinced that the
origin is below the surface of the lake. Mrs. Nara Crowley, The President of Save Lake Peigneur
carefully explained the history of Lake Peigneur. She described that the bubbling occurrences are
more in the form of periodic events that are abrupt and short lived, but the remnants can be seen
in the form of floating surface bubbles for long periods of time after the event occurs. She also
said the ate events occur most frequently during a change of seasons. She too believes that the
origin of the bubbles is below the surface, but has not first hand witnessed any effervescence.
Lake resident and avid sportsman, George Couvillion, stated that he witnessed bubbles on the
lake regularly. He stated that they were a regular occurrence all across the lake and were more
frequent when the winds were out of the east. Mr. Couvillion further stated that on extreamly
windy days, lake foam builds up as much as three feet high against his bulkhead.

Bubble Trap Creation: In order to determine if bubbles are originating on the surface,
one must establish that there are no bubbles coming from below the surface. In order to do this, I
came up with the idea of a bubble catcher. This device was designed to be dropped in an area
where a bubbling event is occurring and be able to capture rising bubbles without allowing
surface contamination. The device itself was made of a metal ring approximately three feet in
diameter with plastic sheeting covering it shaped into a cone supported from the surface with a
buoy to reveal its location and an anchor attached to keep it steady. After being released into the
water the device could be left for multiple hours. Any subsurface bubbles entering the metal ring
would float upwards and be trapped in the cone of the plastic sheeting. After constructing a
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model and testing it in a swimming pool, I included folding the plastic from the underside of the
metal ring to eliminate any possible surface air contamination. Also to eliminate surface air
contamination, to properly deploy the device, it is lowered upside down into the water, all of the
bubbles adhering to the surface of the plastic sheeting are brushed off and the device is returned
to upright position, all under water so that no surface contamination could occur. Once in place, a
final visual inspection is conducted to confirm that there is no surface air contamination. The
device is then allowed to sit in place, waiting to trap any bubbles making their way to the
surface. Once trapped, the bubbles will stay there contained, until I return and measure and
extract the samples. The samples would then be sent to a testing facility to determine their
chemical makeup.

Securing Testing Lab and Obtaining Gas Sample Test Jars:

This task performed completely by adult mentor.

Site Visit and Data Collection: Three trips, November 19, December 14 and December
15 to Lake Peigneur were planned and performed.
Site Visit One: In the initial trip a substantial amount of surface bubbles, in long
lightning bolt shaped lines, just as described by the witnesses were witnessed. Using a
small boat we traversed and toured the lake, making notes as to the direction and
locations of the bubble lines and to determine optimum locations for placement of the
bubble traps. After getting the lay of the lake, we set out our ten bubble traps as shown on
the map for Site Visit One in the attached data book. We specifically chose to set up
bubble catchers 7 and 8 near the two well heads for the currently existing storage caverns.
We observed that the wind was quite strong that day and that the bubbles formed lines
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parallel to the direction the wind blew. Under the presumption that the wind would carry
bubbles across the lake, we followed lines of bubbles against the wind to what should be
their origin and placed bubble catchers 1, 2 and 9 in those locations. After setting out the
other bubble catchers in areas where surface bubbles were observed, we too some time to
make other observations. It was also observed that due to the wind, waves would
occasionally whitecap, causing a small cluster of bubbles to form. After numerous
attempts, we managed to capture a picture of this as can be seen in the data book. We
also observed that the water had a viscous, almost slippery feel to it and a slightly salty
taste. We allowed the bubble catchers to soak for approximately four hours each and upon
returning to the examine them, we found each to be empty, even though the areas were
still in the midst of a stream of surface bubbles. Based on the lack of bubbles in any of
our traps, we deduced that during the period in which the trap had been set, no bubbles
had risen from the bottom of the lake. To further determine the presence of potential
subsurface bubbles, we then went to the areas of the lake with plant life growing from the
water to try and artificially stimulate the release of bubbles trapped in the silt at the
bottom of the lake. We selected four locations as identified on the map for Site Visit One
and properly submerged and de-contaminated our bubble catchers. Then, while one
person held the bubble catcher in place, another person used a boat paddle to agitate the
silt below the bubble catcher. We found that the sediment at the bottom of the lake was
made up of a thin layer of sandy silt on top of a thick layer of very dense clay, none of
which released any bubbles. After that the sun began to set and the trip was put to an end.
While discussing our findings, we decided that it would be beneficial to take some core
samples of the lake bottom and to perform a PH test on the water.

Site Visit Two: The second trip was very similar to the first in that there was a
strong wind and again, long lightning bolt shaped lines of bubbles were witnessed on the
lake. Again we set out bubble catchers as shown on the Site Visit Two map. After an
approximate three hour soak per catcher, we examined them and again discover no
subsurface bubbles were captured. While the catchers were soaking, we again witnessed
waves forming small whitecaps and again noticed small clusters of bubbles being formed.
We then took a water sample and tested the PH and found it to by ????. We then focused
on collecting soil samples. Having prepared three PVC tubes by cutting them to three
foot lengths and beveling the edges so that they could be driven into the ground with a
four pound maul, we went to three locations as shown on the Site Visit Two map and
collected the samples. After labeling each sample and taping them off so they would not
leak, we carried the them home, cut them open and observed that each one contained a
layer of sandy silt on top of a layer of thick clay. None of which appeared to be mud or
contain decomposing vegetation.
Site Visit Three: On the third trip there was relatively no wind. We witnessed no
lines of bubbles crossing the lake and were unable to find any clusters of bubbles
anywhere on the lake. We continued as planned to deploy our bubble catcher as planned
in locations shown on the Site Visit Three map. After an approximately three hour soak
for each catcher we returned and examined them and found no captured subsurface
bubbles.
Results:
Surface bubbles observed as described by previous witnesses to bubbling events: Yes

Surface bubbles observed forming as a result of natural conditions (wind on waves): Yes
Amount of naturally occurring subsurface bubbles captured: 0.0 milliliters.
Amount of subsurface bubbles captured from agitating bottom silt: 0.0 Milliliters.
Presence of soil appearing to contain decomposing vegetation: No

Analysis/Discussion: After researching lake foam, I have determined that lake foam is
determined by its characteristics. Namely, if water contains surfactants or molecules that lower
surface tension, the water tends to be more elastic and when air is mixed in, the resulting bubbles
can persist for some time. *** Foam typically collects along windward shores and in open water
typically forms long evenly spaced lines called windrows. My observations of the surface
bubbles of Lake Peigneur are that they follow these characteristics precisely. Windrows were
observed, but only on windy days. Bubbles can easily be created using a sample of lake water in
a bucket, demonstrating a lack of surface tension in the water. Water tests show that the water is
soft, containing little to no calcium which tends to increase the likelihood of surfactants.
Further, the presence of two shrimp production facilities located on the Delcambre Canal just
below the mouth of Lake Peigneur suggests that there is a significant source of surfactants
directly connected to the lake. Finally, the lack of a single subsurface bubble being captured
after three days of monitoring ten traps each day demonstrates that bubbles are not coming from
below the surface of the lake.
Conclusion:
My conclusion is that the hypothesis is confirmed. The origin of the bubbles is not below the surface of
the lake, but that they are ordinary lake foam resulting from the naturally occurring action of the

wind on the water. Further, they are not a herald of a pending subsurface natural or man-made
disaster.
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Application to Society: The residents of Lake Peigneur and the members of Save Lake Peigneur
can stop worrying about the mysterious bubbles of Lake Peigneur. There is absolutely no
indication of a subsurface release of natural gas. The surface bubbles witnessed are the naturally
occurring action of the wind on the water. They are not a herald of a pending subsurface natural
or man-made disaster. The foam is harmless and does not endanger the environment or residents
in anyway.

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